UPDATE 1-South Africa's unemployment rate steady at 27.7 percent

Reuters Staff

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PRETORIA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - South Africa’s unemployment rate was steady at 27.7 percent in the third quarter as employment gains in finance and services were offset by job losses in manufacturing, construction and agriculture, the statistics office said on Tuesday.

In its quarterly labour force survey, Statistics South Africa said the absolute number of unemployed rose slightly to 6.2 million in the three months to end September from 6.177 million in the second quarter.

The stubbornly high unemployment rate piles more pressure on the African National Congress government as it struggles with low growth and rising debt ahead of the party’s conference to pick a new leader to succeed President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma, who has battled several scandals including corruption allegations, can remain head of state until a general election in 2019.

The statistics agency said employment grew by 92,000 in the quarter but this was offset by an additional 33,000 job-seekers.